Wednesday, January 14, 2015

I know that I have announced that version 2.70 would have been the final T-45C release, but during the development of the MB.326 I spotted some very minor defects, which were easy to fix so here we are with version 2.75. Given that the changes are very small, this release will only be available from this blog at the moment. Changes are as follows:

Monday, January 12, 2015

Thanks for the oustanding feedback on the MB.326 Beta - I am going through the bugs list and I have already solved many of them. As consequence, the Beta1 build is now outdated, and I will withdraw it from download in the next few days.If you want to download the Beta, I urge you to do so in asap. I will keep on collecting feedback and fixing bugs. I am looking to release version 1.00 within a couple of weeks in the worst case.

Aside, on top of the excellent work he did for the liveries, Alessandro was so kind to provide me (and you) with a paintkit for the MB.326, in layered PSD format.This file is provided "as is" - no guarantee of any kind and no support whatsoever will be provided.Please:- Note that the intended usage of these files is to create freeware liveries for the MB.326. Please refrain from redistributing these files or content derivative of these files for profit.- Please DO NOT share or distribute repaint until version 1.00 of this package is officially released from this blog. We may need to make changes to the package and to the folder structure...most probably including a specific folder to support twin seater versions with MK.540 engine.If you promise you will stick to these (simple) rules, you are welcome to download the paintkit by clicking HERE.

Sunday, January 4, 2015

NOTE: BETA VESION IS NOW OUTDATE BY THE NEWER INTERNAL BUILDS, THEREFORE IS NO MORE AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD.THE OFFICIAL 1.0 RELEASE SHOULD BE AVAILABLE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS...PLEASE BE PATIENT!

Here we are with the public Beta version of the Aermacchi MB.326 - this is a very special project for me, as this is the only military jet I had the pleasure to fly in reality (yes - I was in control for few minutes, but still it was an amazing and unforgettable experience).

First thing, I'd like to thank all the people involved in this project:

Alessandro Barbarini, who volunteered to redo the external textures and did an Amazing job and was a continous driver for improvements; Roy Holmes who created a very realistic flight model (I invite you to check it against actual flight manuals and be amazed by the accuracy), Mario Motta who provided additional coding and flight testing (Mario has hundreds of real-life flight hours on the 326) and Serge Luzin who, as usual, created an exceptional sound package (some of it is based on recordings taken on my joy-ride).

THANK YOU ALL - IT HAS BEEN A GREAT FUN WORKING WITH YOU ON THIS ONE!!!!

That being said, here are some things you need to know about this Beta version:

This package depicts several versions of the Aermacchi MB.326, which can be divided in two-seater unarmed versions, two-seater armed versions and single-seater armed versions.

There is only one virtual cockpit model. This is sort of an average between the different layouts of the mid-late 70's... hence it is similar, but not exactly the same, as any real-life version. This is a compromise I had to make to keep the project to a manageable size.

The project has been tested in FSX:Acceleration and in P3DV2. It has not been tested in FSX-Steam Edition, nor in FSX:SP1/SP2 and may not work.

The package supports both VACMI from Sim Skunk Works and Tacpack from Vertical Reality Simulations. Those are two add-on packages that allow FSX/P3Dv2 to have working weapons functionality. At the time I am writing, VACMI is the only one that supports P3Dv2.

To make weapons work with VACMI
The package should work without any modification under VACMI. You should, however, disable collisions with other aircrafts - otherwise, releasing a bomb may cause a collision with the aircraft. NOTE - with VACMI the following weapons will not work: MK.76, Magic 550, all guns and gunpods (cosmetic only)

To make weapons work with TACPACKIn order to make weapons work with Tacpack you MUST replace the panel.cfg in the PANEL subfolder of the MB326E folder, with the one contained in the panel_TACPACK_backup. This MUST BE DONE ONLY ON THE MB.326E folder.
NOTE 1 - with Tacpack the following weapons will not work: Matra F2 and 155 rocket pods. 2 - Beta files are not signed for multiplayer in Tacpack. If the server has anti-cheat turned on, you will be kicked out.

To fire weaponsIn order to fire a weapon, apart obviously from loading it in the configurator, you must:
- Switch the Trigger selector switch to ARMT & CAM
- Switch the MASTER ARM to READY
- Select the weapon station you wish to employ (upon pressing the key it turns green if the station ammo is not zero)
- If the weapon you wish to fire is a cannon, you must also turn on the gun power switch
- Within Tacpack: trigger fires all the forward firing weapons, pickle drops the droppable ones.
- Within VACMI: brake key (usually mapped to trigger) fires any weapon
NOTE - Guns visual effects should work even if you have no weapon package installed.

Bug reports
I will keep track of the bugs/change requests in my usual way, that is filling and updating the following list:

Bugs and change request listsLAST UPDATE 5/2/2015

Visual Model:MB326MDL1 - Inner frame of canopy on single-seater model has defective geometry (visible when canopy is open, single seater model only). Fixed, 3D part redone.MB326MDL2 - Position light reflection too big. Fixed, created bespoke effect.MB326MDL3 - Aileron trim animation not working. Actually this was not coded in the .mdl. - no time to redo all the models, considered a minor issue -> moving forward with this.MB326MDL4 - Upper beacon light way too strong. Fixed, created bespoke effect.

Weapons functionality:MB326WP1 - Tacpack incompatibility (loads still suspended after release). FIXED - Wrong system simulation files went into Beta build. Please download BETA1A.MB326WP2 - Minigun visual effect on STA2 does not work. Could not replicate the bug. ON HOLD - CLOSED. This is dependant on visual effect settings / rendering engine. Code is correct, just does not show in some cases.MB326WP3 - Under VACMI, when selecting STA6 release, STA5 is fired. FIXED - Bug in Tactical module, found and fixed.MB326WP4 - Under Tacpack, gun trigger does not seen to work. FIXED - Identified bug in Tactical moduleMB326WP5 - Under Tacpack, files NOT signed for multiplayer. Intentional in the Beta.MB326WP6 - Under Tacpack, cannot load SUU-11 on STA2. FIXED - Bug in Tacpack.ini file, wrong assignment for that station.General and Others:MB326GEN1 - Checklist and product documentation are missing.MB326GEN2 - Removed repaint of the aicraft involved in the Casalecchio di Reno accident.MB326GEN3 - Write a flight manual. Note: T-45 flight manual included by mistake.MB326GEN4 - Minor mistake in scrape points, light assignment, fuel system in aicraft.cfg FixedMB326GEN5 - Tacpack debug screen instead of GPS - Fixed.MB326GEN6 - Nav radio 2 not configured but present - Removed NAV2 radio from radio panel.MB326GEN7 - Old texture set left in by mistake and unreferenced - Fixed, texture set removed.MB326GEN8 - Abnormally high data packet consumption in multiplayer - Fixed. - Bug in gun effect code.

Color key as follows:

RED - Severe problem. Product should not be released until the issue is solved, or, should the problem become too difficult or time consuming to solve, users must be clearly notified of the defect. Solving such issues is a very high priority.

ORANGE - Moderately severe issue...it will be perceived as a defect by most users. High priority.

YELLOW - Minor issue. Better fix it, but low priority...and will not be noted by most users.

GREEN - Issue solved, still on the list for the record or verification.

BLUE - Possible improvement / nice to have: product is not defective as is, but could be better. May be introduced with an update later on.

How to download the BETA:Beta version is now outdated and is no more available for download.

This is a new version of the F-35 project that improves the freeware version in several areas including new visual models, additional avionics functionalities (with TFLIR, DAS and ASR imaging support) and new flight dynamics.

FREEWARE DOWNLOADS

This section provides download links for the latest official releases of my freeware projects. Normally, these files are also uploaded to avsim.com and flightsim.com, although there is no guarantee that any external website has the latest version.

IF YOU WISH TO DONATE...

In November 2015, IndiaFoxtEcho Visual Simulation has been officially registered as a company and will venture into the production of payware add-ons.
This does not mean that freeware will be abandoned, but rather will provide the means for funding more complex (and hopefully better) addons. The fist two payware projects will be the new F-35 for Prepar3d v.25 and the Military Avatars Package.
Still, if you like my freeware projects and wish to make a donation here is a Paypal "donate" button.